Privacy Policy

Which version this policy applies to

The App changes where ad detection is performed, depending on the version. Because the handling differs, the points that differ are written separately for each version. You can check the version you are using at the bottom of the App’s Settings.

• Version 1.6.2 (published on Google Play) …… ad detection is performed on your device.
• Version 1.8.6 and later (applies once distribution begins on Google Play) …… ad detection is performed on our server.

Introduction

This Privacy Policy describes how PELLICULE (“we/us”) handles your information in the app “Phone Guardian Ad Block” (Japanese title: スマホの番人 - 広告ブロック; the “App”).

Our basic policy

How the VPN feature is used

To block ads and scam or fake-alert sites, the App uses the VPN feature built into Android, on your device. It never connects to an outside VPN server. We never obtain your browsing history, the contents of your traffic, or anything you type. This is the same in every version.

[Version 1.6.2 (published on Google Play)]

• Ad detection is performed on your device. No information is sent externally for this purpose.

[Version 1.8.6 and later (applies once distribution begins on Google Play)]

• Ad detection is performed on our server. The list of sites to block is held only on our server and is not stored on your device.
• Your device sends only a value derived from the name of the site being accessed, converted into a form that cannot be reversed. The site name itself, the contents of the pages you view, and anything you enter never leave your device.
• The value we receive is not stored, and no information identifying you or your device is attached to it. The communication is encrypted.
• If our server cannot be reached, the site is loaded as usual (blocking does not apply during that time).

Information stored on your device

• Records such as the number of blocked items and the data you saved are stored only on your device. They are never sent anywhere.
• No account registration is required. We never ask you to enter your name, address, or phone number.

Information you provide when contacting us

Choosing “Contact us” in Settings opens our website’s contact form. To reply to you, we ask for your name, email address, and message.

• What you enter is used only to respond to your inquiry and is never shared with third parties.
• The App itself never sends or collects your inquiry contents or personally identifiable information.

Free-trial management

To prevent the free trial from being started again and again by uninstalling and reinstalling, a value derived from the device identifier in a form that cannot be reversed, together with the trial start time, is sent to our server and stored there.

• This value cannot identify you or your device.
• It is used only for managing the trial period (preventing misuse), never for advertising, and never shared with third parties.
• If you have purchased the App, it is not sent.
• It is sent wherever the App is used.

When the App communicates

The App communicates externally only in the following cases.

[Version 1.6.2 (published on Google Play)]

• When receiving the list of sites to block from us (only when used within Japan). This communication contains no personal information.

[Version 1.8.6 and later (applies once distribution begins on Google Play)]

• While the guard is on, when determining whether the site being accessed is subject to blocking. Only a value derived from the site name, converted into a form that cannot be reversed, is sent to our server; the site name itself and what you view are not sent. This value is not stored and cannot identify you or your device. It is used solely for that determination and is never provided to third parties. It is sent wherever the App is used.

[Common to every version]

• When checking for a new version of the App (only when used within Japan). Only information about the App version is sent, and no personal information is included.
• When using the app store’s payment system (such as Google Play) for the one-time purchase. Payment information is managed by the store; we never obtain your credit card number or similar details.
• When sending the value above and the trial start time to our server for trial management.
• When you submit our website’s contact form.
• When the purchase record and the device identifier, each converted into a form that cannot be reversed, are sent to our server to manage your purchase (use on one device at a time). These values cannot identify you, your Google account or your device. They are used only for managing your purchase, never for advertising, and are never provided to third parties.

Ads

The App itself never shows any ads, and never collects information for ad delivery.

Contact

For questions about this policy, please use the contact form.

Revisions

Any revision to this policy will be announced on this page. Important changes will also be clearly announced inside the App.